Wisdom or Confirmation?

Levi Wenrich
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read

The danger of blurring the two together with Social Media.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America

How many of us have replaced our morning paper with Twitter feeds and Facebook posts?

I know I have. Right or wrong, I tend to catch up on global events through social media’s trending topics. Could this be a dangerous way to ingest news and information? Of course, tweets from both verified and unverified sources have a tendency to be taken as gospel. But if I’m being honest with myself (which is something I can only do outside of Lakers season), the convenience of the updates in the palm of my hand, tend to be hard to ignore.

The danger lies in the various rabbit holes that are associated with each topic. It doesn’t take much effort to get connected with whatever mob mentality your looking to align with on a given subject. Whether your talking sports, politics, movies or music, there are sure to be two sides of the argument fence for you to choose from.

Pick a debate, any debate, whatever fits your mood. Welcome to…

Social Media Fight Night!!!

Topic #1: Eminem’s latest album. Was it continued evidence that he’s the greatest rapper alive or just another old guy whose mad that “Machine Gun Kelly” has a cooler name?

Topic #2: Colin Kaepernick’s Nike add. Is this a bold statement that symbolizes the concept of free speech our country was founded upon or is this a blatantly disgraceful and treasonous act that calls for the burning of overpriced socks everywhere?

Topic #3: President Donald Trump. The details change by the minute on this one so you’ll have to catch up on your own.

Topic #4: Marvel vs DC. Hawkeye or Green Arrow bro you have to pick one!

Although some topics are more serious than others, the options are endless.

The issue at hand is that we are taking dangerous steps towards losing our ability to converse with people on the other side of the fence in an efficient manner.

Whether you want to blame Fox News, CNN, Alex Jones or any other news source that sells entertainment first and foremost, we are heading down a path where we only seek confirmation of our biased views over actual wisdom in a given situation. Being “right” is becoming more important than getting it right.

As a coach, I have the privilege to work with many different players. They come from all different backgrounds, beliefs and financial situations. But the one thing they all have in common, is a deep connection to social media. While the older generations have adapted to the impact of Instagram and other outlets, the younger generations have been raised on them.

Social media can be a great tool if we use it wisely. It has given many people a voice who’ve never had one. Anybody — and I do mean anybody — can put together a 280 character thesis to share with the world. The very fact that you’re reading this is proof of that. You know what large audience is waiting anxiously to see this? My Mom, who will be sure to text me immediately with any and all grammatical errors. You know what credentials I have to discuss this topic? Allow me to list them for you…

A) PB n J Aficionado

B) Avid Batman Fan

C) Occasional Door Opener

D) Wu-Tang Clan Enthusiast

So look at this article for what it really is — just opinion from my point of view.

That’s all any of us have to give. Opinions based on our own personal experience.

If we believe that experience is the ultimate teacher and that no two people share the exact same experience. Then we must consider the fact that the only way to see the whole picture is to be willing to learn from other people’s experiences.

Which means, in order for us to take the next step as a society, we need to stop blaming people’s opinions from the opposite side of the fence, and start asking why they have this opinion in the first place? What has happened in their life that has lead them to this belief or point of view? The answer just might have you rethinking your stance.

What makes me nervous for my players is that social media debates tend to end with finger pointing and clever memes that provide entertainment but little substance. It’s crucial for us to prepare the next generation to look past their own biased opinions and be willing to hear opposing views. To let the online mob mentality be their only guide would be a fatal misstep on our part. We are still learning about the true impact of social media as a whole on society. It’s a new tool and obstacle for us at the same time.

The challenge is that it’s very possible to have a detailed discussion with somebody and still walk away in disagreement. But at least you have a more informed understanding of where the other side is coming from. It’s much easier to work with people once you understand their motivations.

The road ahead will always be a challenge. But if we can learn to gain clarity on issues that divide us, rather than being blindly influenced by outside forces, then we can make progress.


Thank you for your time!

Follow me on twitter if you feel like yelling at me ;) twitter.com/LeviWenrich

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade